Vehicle periphery image display device

ABSTRACT

In the vehicle periphery image display device, an own vehicle periphery image is displayed around an own vehicle overview image and, when an obstacle is detected in an own vehicle periphery, an obstacle indicating section indicating a detected location of the obstacle around the own vehicle and a distance between an own vehicle and the obstacle is displayed closer to the own vehicle overview image than the own vehicle periphery image.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle periphery image displaydevice that displays on a display screen an own vehicle periphery imagein a situation such as when parking the vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

A vehicle such as an automobile is usually equipped with a vehicleperiphery image display device that displays on a display screen, suchas a display provided inside a vehicle interior, an own vehicleperiphery image captured by an onboard camera to allow a driver torecognize an own vehicle periphery which cannot directly and visually berecognized by the driver from the own vehicle periphery image displayedon the display screen in a situation such as when parking the vehicle.

Among such vehicle periphery image display devices, a vehicle peripheryimage display device has also been known that displays on a displayscreen provided inside a vehicle interior the location and distance ofan obstacle detected in the own vehicle periphery an onboard radarsensor, in addition to displaying the own vehicle periphery image.

For example, PTL 1 discloses a vehicle periphery image display devicethat displays on a display screen an own vehicle periphery image and,when an obstacle is detected in an own vehicle periphery, a distanceindicating line that indicates a distance between an own vehicle and theobstacle. The vehicle periphery image display device enables recognizingthe distance of the obstacle by the distance indicating line.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: JP 2010-184604 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, the vehicle periphery image display device described in PTL 1displays, when an obstacle is detected in an own vehicle periphery, thedistance indicating line that indicates the distance between the ownvehicle and the obstacle superposed on the own vehicle periphery image,so that it may be difficult to see the own vehicle periphery image onthe display screen, and visibility of the obstacle may be deteriorated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle peripheryimage display device that can accurately display the location anddistance of an obstacle without deteriorating visibility of the obstaclein an own vehicle periphery image.

Solution to Problem

To solve the abovementioned problem, a vehicle periphery image displaydevice according to the present invention is configured as describedbelow.

A first invention of the present application is a vehicle peripheryimage display device that displays on a display screen own vehicle anown vehicle periphery image, including an image capturing unit thatcaptures an own vehicle periphery image; a display controller thatcauses the display screen to display an own vehicle overview image, andalso to display around the own vehicle overview image the own vehicleperiphery image that is captured by the image capturing unit; and anobstacle detector that detects an obstacle in the own vehicle peripheryas well as a detected location of the obstacle around the own vehicleand a distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle, in which thedisplay controller displays around the own vehicle overview image theown vehicle periphery image and displays, when the obstacle detectordetects an obstacle in the own vehicle periphery, an obstacle indicatingsection closer to the own vehicle overview image than the own vehicleperiphery image, the obstacle indicating section indicating the detectedlocation of the obstacle around the own vehicle and the distance betweenthe own vehicle and the obstacle.

A second invention is characterized in that in the vehicle peripheryimage display device according to the first invention, the obstacleindicating section is an obstacle indicating line provided along aroundthe own vehicle overview image, and the display controller changes adisplaying mode of the obstacle indicating section according to thedistance between the own vehicle and the obstacle.

A third invention is characterized in that in the vehicle peripheryimage display device according to the second invention, the displaycontroller displays the own vehicle periphery image around the ownvehicle overview image with a blind area which is not included in theown vehicle periphery image captured by the image capturing unit betweenthe own vehicle overview image and the own vehicle periphery image, andalso displays the obstacle indicating line in the blind area alongaround the own vehicle overview image.

A fourth invention is characterized in that in the vehicle peripheryimage display device according to the second invention, the displaycontroller displays in the own vehicle overview image the obstacleindicating line along around the own vehicle overview image.

A fifth invention is characterized in that in the vehicle peripheryimage display device according to any one of the second to fourthinventions, the display controller changes the displaying mode of theobstacle indicating line according to the distance between the ownvehicle and the obstacle by changing at least one of a line type, adisplaying color, and a mode of lighting or blinking of the obstacleindicating line.

A sixth invention is characterized in that in the vehicle peripheryimage display device according to the fifth invention, when thedisplaying mode of the obstacle indicating line is changed by changingthe mode of lighting or blinking of the obstacle indicating lineaccording to the distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle, thedisplay controller changes a blinking frequency of the obstacleindicating line according to the distance between the own vehicle andthe obstacle.

A seventh invention is characterized in that in the vehicle peripheryimage display device according to any one of the first to sixthinventions, the display controller displays the own vehicle peripheryimage around the own vehicle overview image when parking the vehicle.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the first invention of the present application, the ownvehicle periphery image is displayed around the own vehicle overviewimage and, when the obstacle is detected in the own vehicle periphery,the obstacle indicating section indicating the detected location of theobstacle around the own vehicle and the distance between the own vehicleand the obstacle is displayed closer to the own vehicle overview imagethan the own vehicle periphery image. Accordingly, the obstacleindicating section is not superposed on the own vehicle periphery image,so that the obstacle indicating section can accurately display theposition and distance of the obstacle without deteriorating thevisibility of the obstacle in the own vehicle periphery image. In asituation such as when parking the vehicle, the driver can be given anaccurate alert against the obstacle in the own vehicle periphery by theown vehicle periphery image and the obstacle indicating section.

According to the second invention, the obstacle indicating section is anobstacle indicating line provided along around the own vehicle overviewimage. The displaying mode of the obstacle indicating line is changedaccording to the distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle, sothat a displaying region of the obstacle indicating line can be providedsmaller than the case of providing a plurality of the obstacleindicating lines outside of the own vehicle overview image according tothe distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle.

Furthermore, according to the third invention, the own vehicle peripheryimage is displayed around the own vehicle overview image with a blindarea which is not included in the vehicle periphery image between theown vehicle overview image and the own vehicle periphery image, and alsothe obstacle indicating line is displayed in the blind area in a mannerof effectively using the blind area which is not included in the ownvehicle periphery image as the obstacle indicating section tospecifically obtain the effect described above without deteriorating thevisibility of the obstacle in the own vehicle periphery image.

Furthermore, according to the fourth invention, with the obstacleindicating line displayed in the vehicle overview image along around theown vehicle overview image, the effect described above can bespecifically obtained without deteriorating the visibility of theobstacle in the own vehicle periphery image.

Furthermore, according to the fifth invention, the displaying mode ofthe obstacle indicating line can be changed according to the distancebetween the own vehicle and the obstacle by changing at least one of theline type, the displaying color, and the mode of lighting or blinking ofthe obstacle indicating line, thereby indicating the distance betweenthe own vehicle and the obstacle in a relatively easy manner.

Furthermore, according to the sixth invention, when the displaying modeof the obstacle indicating line is changed according to the distancebetween the own vehicle and the obstacle by changing the mode oflighting or blinking of the obstacle indicating line, the blinkingfrequency of the obstacle indicating line is changed according to thedistance between the own vehicle and the obstacle so that the driver caneasily recognize the distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle.

Furthermore, according to the seventh invention, with the own vehicleperiphery image displayed around the own vehicle overview image whenparking the vehicle, the driver is given an accurate alert against theobstacle in the own vehicle periphery by the own vehicle periphery imageand the obstacle indicating section when parking the vehicle. Thiseffectively supports the driver to park the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a control system diagram of a vehicle periphery image displaydevice according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating arrangement of a camera and aradar sensor of the vehicle periphery image display device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining a display of a vehicleperiphery image display device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating display control of the vehicleperiphery image display device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating display control of an obstacle.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for explaining a display of a vehicleperiphery image display device according to a second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a control system diagram of a vehicle periphery image displaydevice according to an embodiment of the present invention. A vehicleperiphery image display device 1 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention is mounted on a vehicle, such as an automobile, andincludes a range sensor 2 that detects a shift lever range selected by adriver, namely, P (parking) range, R (backward driving) range, N(neutral) range, and D (forward driving) range, a camera 3 such as awide angle camera serving as an image capturing unit to capture an ownvehicle periphery image, a radar sensor 4 such as an ultrasonic radarsensor serving as a detector that detects an obstacle in an own vehicleperiphery as well as a detected location of the obstacle around an ownvehicle and a distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle, avehicle speed sensor 5 that detects a speed of the vehicle, a radarsensor switch 6 that starts display control of displaying the vehicleperiphery image and an obstacle indicating section, which will bedescribed later, when the obstacle is detected in the own vehicleperiphery, and a display 7 serving as a display screen.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating arrangement of the camera andthe radar sensor of the vehicle periphery image display device. As shownin FIG. 2, the camera 3 mounted on the vehicle 10 specifically includesa front camera 11 disposed in the front part of the vehicle body tocapture an image of the forward side of the own vehicle, a right sidecamera 12 disposed in the right side part of the vehicle body to capturean image of the right side of the own vehicle, a left side camera 13disposed in the left side part of the vehicle body to capture an imageof the left side of the own vehicle, and a rear camera 14 disposed inthe rear part of the vehicle body to capture an image of the rear sideof the own vehicle.

Specifically, the radar sensor 4 mounted on the vehicle 10 includes aright front corner sensor 21 disposed at the right front corner of thevehicle body to detect an obstacle in the right front corner peripheryof the own vehicle, a left front corner sensor 22 disposed at the leftfront corner of the vehicle body to detect an obstacle in the left frontcorner periphery of the own vehicle, a right rear corner sensor 23disposed at the right rear corner of the vehicle body to detect anobstacle in the right rear corner periphery of the own vehicle, a leftrear corner sensor 24 disposed at the left rear corner of the vehiclebody to detect an obstacle in the left rear corner periphery of the ownvehicle, a front sensor 25 disposed in the front of the vehicle body todetect an obstacle in the front periphery of the own vehicle, and a rearsensor 26 disposed in the rear of the vehicle body to detect an obstaclein the rear periphery of the own vehicle. When each of the sensors 21 to26 detects an obstacle, the position of the obstacle and the distancebetween the own vehicle and the obstacle can be detected.

The display 7 in the vehicle periphery image display device 1 isinstalled in the middle portion of a dash panel of the vehicle body inthe vehicle interior. The display 7 displays route information for thevehicle and, in a situation such as when parking the vehicle, the imageof the rear side of the own vehicle captured by the rear camera 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle periphery image display device 1 alsoincludes a controller unit 8 that controls for example the display 7.The controller unit 8 performs control of an image to be displayed onthe display 7 based on a signal input from the range sensor 2, thecamera 3, the radar sensor 4, the vehicle speed sensor 5, and the radarsensor switch 6. The controller unit 8 includes a microcomputer as amain unit.

The controller unit 8 can also display on the display 7 the own vehicleoverview image and the own vehicle periphery image based on a signalfrom the camera 3, and can also display on the display 7 the positionand distance of the obstacle in the own vehicle periphery based on asignal from the radar sensor 4.

In the present embodiment, the controller unit 8 causes the display 7 todisplay the own vehicle periphery image around the own vehicle overviewimage when the range sensor 2 detects the backward driving range in asituation such as when parking the vehicle, and performs obstacleindication control to display, closer to the own vehicle overview imagethan the own vehicle periphery image, the obstacle indicating sectionindicating the detected location of an obstacle around the own vehicleand the distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle when theobstacle is detected in the vehicle periphery. The own vehicle overviewimage is previously stored in the controller unit 8.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining the display of the vehicleperiphery image display device according to the first embodiment. Asshown in FIG. 3, when the range sensor 2 detects the backward drivingrange, the display 7 displays two screens, one in right and the other inleft. On a right screen 30, the image of the rear side of the ownvehicle captured by the rear camera 14 is displayed. On a left screen40, an own vehicle overview image 41 is displayed together with an ownvehicle periphery image 42 around the own vehicle overview image 41.

On the left screen 40, the own vehicle periphery image 42 is displayedaround the own vehicle overview image 41 with a blind area 43 which isnot included in the own vehicle periphery image captured by the camera 3between the own vehicle overview image 41 and the own vehicle peripheryimage 42. Also, on the left screen 40, an obstacle indicating line 45 isdisplayed in the blind area 43 which is closer to the own vehicleoverview image than the own vehicle periphery image 42 around the ownvehicle, along around the own vehicle overview image 41, where theobstacle indicating line 45 is displayed as an obstacle indicatingsection indicating the position and the distance of the obstacle.

The obstacle indicating line 45 specifically includes a right frontcorner obstacle indicating line 45 a, a left front corner obstacleindicating line 45 b, a right rear corner obstacle indicating line 45 c,and a left rear corner obstacle indicating line 45 d, each of which isprovided at the right front corner, the left front corner, the rightrear corner, and the left rear corner around the own vehicle overviewimage 41, and also includes a front center obstacle indicating line 45 eand a rear center obstacle indicating line 45 f, each of which isprovided at the front center and the rear center around the own vehicleoverview image 41.

When an obstacle is detected in the own vehicle periphery based on asignal from the radar sensor 4, an obstacle indicating line, among theobstacle indicating lines 45 a to 45 f constituting the obstacleindicating line 45, that corresponds to the location of the obstaclearound the own vehicle detected by the radar sensor 4 is displayed. Thedistance between the own vehicle and the obstacle detected by the radarsensor 4 is displayed by changing the displaying mode of the obstacleindicating line 45 (each of the obstacle indicating lines 45 a to 45 f).

The obstacle indicating line 45 performs changing at least the linetype, the displaying color, and the mode of lighting or blinkingaccording to the distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle.Furthermore, when blinking the obstacle indicating line 45, the blinkingfrequency of the obstacle indicating line 45 can be changed according tothe distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle.

For the obstacle indicating line 45 displayed on the display 7 in thevehicle periphery image display device according to the firstembodiment, Table 1 below shows displaying modes that are changedaccording to the distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle. InTable 1, the right front corner obstacle indicating line 45 a, the leftfront corner obstacle indicating line 45 b, the right rear cornerobstacle indicating line 45 c, and the left rear corner obstacleindicating line 45 d are each expressed as a corner, the front centerobstacle indicating line 45 e is expressed as a front center, and therear center obstacle indicating line 45 f is expressed as a rear center.

TABLE 1 Ranges in which obstacle is Displaying color, Lighting ordetected Corner Front center Rear center line type blinking Short rangeAbout 30 cm About 30 cm About 30 cm Red solid line Blinking 5 Hz Middlerange 30 to 45 cm 30 to 50 cm 30 to 50 cm Orange solid line Blinking 2to 3 Hz Long range 45 to 55 cm 50 to 80 cm 50 to 80 cm Yellow solid lineLighting Far-long range 80 to 100 cm 80 to 150 cm Green solid lineLighting

As shown in Table 1, in the present embodiment, the obstacle indicatingline 45 indicates the distance from the obstacle by ranges in which theobstacle is detected, which are a short range, a middle range, a longrange, and a far-long range. The obstacle indicating line 45 isdisplayed as a red solid line blinking at a frequency of 5 Hz when theobstacle is detected in the short range, an orange solid line blinkingat a frequency of 2 to 3 Hz when the obstacle is detected in the middlerange, an yellow solid line blinking when the obstacle is detected inthe long range, and a green solid line blinking when the obstacle isdetected in the far-long range.

As for the corner obstacle indicating lines 45 a, 45 b, 45 c, and 45 d,the short range is set to a distance shorter than 30 cm, the middlerange is set to a distance of 30 cm or longer and shorter than 45 cm,and the long range is set to a distance of 45 cm or longer and shorterthan 55 cm. As for the front center obstacle indicating line 45 e, theshort range is set to a distance shorter than 30 cm, the middle range isset to a distance of 30 cm or longer and shorter than 50 cm, the longrange is set to a distance of 50 cm or longer and shorter than 80 cm,and the far-long range is set to a distance of 80 cm or longer andshorter than 100 cm. As for the rear center obstacle indicating line 45f, the short range is set to a distance shorter than 30 cm, the middlerange is set to a distance of 30 cm or longer and shorter than 50 cm,the long range is set to a distance of 50 cm or longer and shorter than80 cm, and the far-long range is set to a distance of 80 cm or longerand shorter than 150 cm.

As shown in FIG. 3, when vehicles C1 and C2 are respectively present ata distance of 50 cm from the own vehicle in the right rear cornerperiphery and left rear corner periphery of the own vehicle when parkingthe vehicle, the corner obstacle indicating lines 45 c and 45 d are eachdisplayed as a blinking yellow solid line on the left screen 40according to the location and distance of the vehicles C1 and C2 (inFIG. 3, the diagonally hatched lines indicate the blinking yellow solidlines).

As shown in Table 1, the displaying mode of the obstacle indicating line45 to be displayed corresponding to the location and distance of theobstacle in the own vehicle periphery is preset and stored in thecontroller unit 8.

In a case where an ON signal is input from the radar sensor switch 6 byan operator with pushing the radar sensor switch 6 and a vehicle speeddetected by the vehicle speed sensor 5 is below a predetermined vehiclespeed, for example 20 km/h, the controller unit 8 causes the display 7to display the own vehicle periphery image around the own vehicleoverview image even when the range sensor 2 detects a range other thanthe backward driving range, and performs obstacle indication control todisplay, closer to the own vehicle overview image than the own vehicleperiphery image, the obstacle indicating section indicating the detectedlocation of an obstacle around the own vehicle and the distance betweenthe own vehicle and the obstacle when the obstacle is detected in thevehicle periphery.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the display control of the vehicleperiphery image display device. The controller unit 8 performs thedisplay control of the vehicle periphery image display device 1 todisplay on the display 7 the own vehicle periphery image around the ownvehicle overview image and, when an obstacle is detected in the ownvehicle periphery, to display the obstacle indicating section.

In the vehicle periphery image display device 1 as shown in FIG. 4,various types of signals related to the vehicle periphery image displaydevice 1 are first read (step S1), and then signals from the rangesensor 2, the camera 3, the radar sensor 4, the vehicle speed sensor 5,the radar sensor switch 6 and the like are read.

Then, it is determined whether the shift lever is in the backwarddriving range (step S2). If the determination in step S2 is YES, thatis, if the shift lever is in the backward driving range, the controllerunit 8 causes the display 7 to display the own vehicle overview imagetogether with the own vehicle periphery image around the own vehicleoverview image (step S3).

When an obstacle is detected in the own vehicle periphery, thecontroller unit 8 performs the obstacle indication control to display,closer to the own vehicle overview image than the own vehicle peripheryimage, the obstacle indicating section indicating the detected locationof the obstacle around the own vehicle and the distance between the ownvehicle and the obstacle with the obstacle indicating section (step S4).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating display control of an obstacle. FIG.5 shows an obstacle indication control in which the right rear cornerobstacle indicating line 45 c is displayed when an obstacle is detectedin the right rear corner periphery of the own vehicle based on a signalfrom the right rear corner sensor 23.

As shown in FIG. 5, it is determined whether there exists an obstacle inthe own vehicle periphery (step S11). It is determined whether thereexists an obstacle in the right rear corner periphery of the own vehiclebased on a signal from the radar sensor 4, specifically the right rearcorner sensor 23.

If the determination in step S11 is YES, that is, if it is determinedthat there exists an obstacle in the own vehicle periphery, the detectedlocation of the obstacle around the own vehicle is the right rear cornerbased on the signal from the right rear corner sensor 23, and theobstacle indicating line is displayed on the detected location aroundthe own vehicle according to the distance of the obstacle.

If the determination in step S11 is YES, it is determined whether thedistance between the own vehicle and the obstacle is shorter than A1(step S12), namely, it is determined whether the range in which theobstacle is detected is the short range. A1 for the region in the rightrear corner periphery of the own vehicle is 30 cm.

If the determination in step S12 is YES, it is determined that theobstacle exists in the short range, and the corner obstacle indicatingline 45 c corresponding to the detected location of the obstacle isdisplayed as a red solid line blinking at a frequency of 5 Hz (stepS13).

If the determination in step S12 is NO, it is determined whether thedistance between the own vehicle and the obstacle is shorter than A2(step S14), namely, it is determined whether the range in which theobstacle is detected is the middle range. A2 for the region in the rightrear corner periphery of the own vehicle is 45 cm.

If the determination in step S14 is YES, it is determined that theobstacle exists in the middle range, and the corner obstacle indicatingline 45 c corresponding to the detected location of the obstacle isdisplayed as an orange solid line blinking at a frequency of 2 to 3 Hz(step S15).

If the determination in step S14 is NO, it is determined whether thedistance between the own vehicle and the obstacle is shorter than A3(step S16), namely, it is determined whether the range in which theobstacle is detected is the long range. A3 for the region in the rightrear corner periphery of the own vehicle is 55 cm.

If the determination in step S16 is YES, it is determined that theobstacle exists in the long range, and the corner obstacle indicatingline 45 c is displayed as an yellow line blinking, which corresponds tothe detected location of the obstacle (step S17). If the determinationin step S16 is NO, it is determined that the obstacle does not exist inthe long range, and the controller unit 8 controls the display 7 not todisplay the corner obstacle indicating line 45 c corresponding to thedetected location of the obstacle. Also, if the determination in stepS11 is NO, the controller unit 8 controls the display 7 not to displaythe corner obstacle indicating line 45 c.

FIG. 5 shows the obstacle indication control in which the right rearcorner obstacle indicating line 45 c is displayed based on the signalfrom the right rear corner sensor 23 when an obstacle is detected in theright rear corner periphery of the own vehicle; however, the obstacleindication control to display the right front corner obstacle indicatingline 45 a, the left front corner obstacle indicating line 45 b, and theleft rear corner obstacle indicating line 45 d based on respectivesignals from the right front corner sensor 21, the left front cornersensor 22, and the left rear corner sensor 24 is performed in the samemanner as above.

The obstacle indication control to display the front center obstacleindicating line 45 e and the rear center obstacle indicating line 45 fbased on respective signals from the front sensor 25 and the rear sensor26 is performed in the same manner as the obstacle indication control todisplay the right rear corner obstacle indicating line 45 c except that,if the determination in step S16 is NO and further it is determinedwhether the distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle is shorterthan A4, namely, it is determined whether the range in which theobstacle is detected is in the far-long range, and it is determined thatthe obstacle exists in the far-long range, the obstacle indicating lines45 e and 45 f corresponding to the detected distance of the obstacle aredisplayed as blinking green solid lines.

For the front part periphery of the own vehicle, A1, A2, A3, and A4 areset respectively to 30 cm, 50 cm, 80 cm, and 100 cm. For the rear partperiphery of the own vehicle, A1, A2, A3 and A4 are set respectively to30 cm, 50 cm, 80 cm, and 150 cm.

If the determination in step S2 is NO, that is, if the shift lever isnot in the backward driving range, it is determined whether the radarsensor switch 6 is ON, namely, it is determined whether an ON signal isinput from the radar sensor switch 6 by an operator with pushing theradar sensor switch 6 (step S5).

If the determination in step S5 is YES, that is, if the radar sensorswitch 6 is ON, it is determined whether the vehicle speed is lower thana predetermined vehicle speed V1, for example, 20 km/h (step S6). If thedetermination in step S6 is YES, that is, if the vehicle speed is lowerthan the predetermined vehicle speed V1, steps S3 and S4 are performedas in the case when the determination in step S2 is YES.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S6 is NO, that is, ifthe vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehiclespeed V1, the controller unit 8 controls the display 7 not to displaythe own vehicle overview image and the own vehicle periphery image.Also, if the determination in step S5 is NO, that is, if it isdetermined that the radar sensor switch 6 is OFF, not ON, the controllerunit 8 controls the display 7 not to display the own vehicle overviewimage and the own vehicle periphery image.

As described above, when an obstacle is detected in the own vehicleperiphery in a case where the shift lever is in the backward drivingrange or the radar sensor switch 6 is ON with the vehicle speed beinglower than the predetermined vehicle speed, the obstacle indicating line45 is displayed depending on the detected location of the obstacle, andthe displaying mode of the obstacle indicating line 45 is changedaccording to the distance of the obstacle.

The present embodiment describes for the vehicle periphery image displaydevice 1 mounted on a vehicle having an automatic transmission. However,the vehicle periphery image display device according to the presentembodiment can be mounted on a vehicle having a manual transmission. Insuch a case, a shift position sensor that detects a shift position of achange lever is provided instead of the range sensor, and it isdetermined whether the shift position of the change lever is in thebackward driving instead of determining whether the shift lever is inthe backward driving range.

As described above, in the vehicle periphery image display device 1according to the present embodiment, the own vehicle periphery image 42is displayed around the own vehicle overview image 41 and, when anobstacle is detected in the own vehicle periphery, the obstacleindicating line 45 indicating the detected location of the obstaclearound the own vehicle and the distance between the own vehicle and theobstacle is displayed closer to the own vehicle overview image 41 thanthe own vehicle periphery image 42. In such a manner, the obstacleindicating line 45 is not superposed on the own vehicle periphery image42, so that the obstacle indicating line 45 can accurately display theposition and distance of the obstacle without deteriorating thevisibility of the obstacle in the own vehicle periphery image 42. In asituation such as when parking the vehicle, the driver is given anaccurate alert against the obstacle in the own vehicle periphery by theown vehicle periphery image 42 and the obstacle indicating line 45.

In the present embodiment, the obstacle indicating section is theobstacle indicating line 45 provided along around the own vehicleoverview image 41. The displaying mode of the obstacle indicating line45 is changed according to the distance between the own vehicle and theobstacle, so that the displaying region of the obstacle indicating line45 can be provided smaller than the case of providing a plurality of theobstacle indicating lines outside of the own vehicle overview imageaccording to the distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle.

Furthermore, the own vehicle periphery image 42 is displayed around theown vehicle overview image 41 with the blind area 43 (area which cannotbe captured by the camera 3) which is not included in the own vehicleperiphery image between the own vehicle overview image 41 and the ownvehicle periphery image 42. Also, the obstacle indicating line 45 isdisplayed in the blind area 43 in a manner of effectively using theblind area 43 which is not included in the own vehicle periphery image42 as the obstacle indicating section to specifically obtain thespecific effect described above without deteriorating the visibility ofthe obstacle in the own vehicle periphery image.

Furthermore, the displaying mode of the obstacle indicating line 45 canbe changed according to the distance between the own vehicle and theobstacle by changing at least one of the line type, the displayingcolor, and the mode of lighting or blinking of the obstacle indicatingline 45, thereby indicating the distance between the own vehicle and theobstacle in a relatively easy manner.

Furthermore, when the displaying mode of the obstacle indicating line 45is changed according to the distance between the own vehicle and theobstacle by changing the mode of lighting or blinking of the obstacleindicating line 45, the blinking frequency of the obstacle indicatingline 45 is changed according to the distance between the own vehicle andthe obstacle so that the driver can easily recognize the distancebetween the own vehicle and the obstacle.

Furthermore, with the own vehicle periphery image displayed around theown vehicle overview image when parking the vehicle, the driver is givenan accurate alert against the obstacle in the own vehicle periphery bythe own vehicle periphery image 42 and the obstacle indicating line 45when parking the vehicle. This effectively supports the driver to parkthe vehicle.

Although the obstacle indicating line 45 is displayed along around theown vehicle overview image 41 in the blind area 43 in the firstembodiment, the obstacle indicating line 45 can be displayed alongaround the own vehicle overview image 41 in the own vehicle overviewimage 41, and the displaying mode of the obstacle indicating line 45 canbe changed according to the distance of the obstacle.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for explaining a display of a vehicleperiphery image display device according to a second embodiment. Thedifference between the vehicle periphery image display device accordingto the second embodiment and the vehicle periphery image display deviceaccording to the first embodiment is the displayed location anddisplaying mode of the obstacle indicating section. A description on theconfiguration same as the vehicle periphery image display device of thefirst embodiment will be omitted.

Also in the vehicle periphery image display device according to thesecond embodiment, the controller unit 8 causes the display 7 to displaythe own vehicle periphery image around the own vehicle overview imagewhen the range sensor 2 detects the backward driving range, and performsobstacle indication control to display, closer to the own vehicleoverview image than the own vehicle periphery image, the obstacleindicating section indicating the detected location of an obstaclearound the own vehicle and the distance between the own vehicle and theobstacle when the obstacle is detected in the vehicle periphery.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the range sensor 2 detects the backward drivingrange, the display 7 displays the own vehicle overview image 41 and theown vehicle periphery image 42 around the own vehicle overview image 41on the left screen 40 with the blind area 43 provided between the ownvehicle overview image 41 and the vehicle periphery image 42.

In the present embodiment, when an obstacle is detected in the ownvehicle periphery, an obstacle indicating line 45′ is displayed, as theobstacle indicating section indicating the location and the distance ofthe obstacle, along around the own vehicle overview image 41 in the ownvehicle overview image 41 in the own vehicle periphery.

The obstacle indicating line 45′ specifically includes a right frontcorner obstacle indicating line 45 a′, a left front corner obstacleindicating line 45 b′, a right rear corner obstacle indicating line 45c′, and a left rear corner obstacle indicating line 45 d′, each of whichis provided at the right front corner, the left front corner, the rightrear corner, and the left rear corner around the own vehicle overviewimage 41.

When an obstacle is detected in the own vehicle periphery based on asignal from the radar sensor 4, an obstacle indicating line, among theobstacle indicating lines 45 a′ to 45 d′ constituting the obstacleindicating line 45′, that corresponds to the location of the obstaclearound the own vehicle detected by the radar sensor 4 is displayed. Thedistance between the own vehicle and the obstacle detected by the radarsensor 4 is displayed by changing the displaying mode of the obstacleindicating line 45′ (each of the obstacle indicating lines 45 a′ to 45d′).

For the obstacle indicating line 45′ displayed on the display 7 in thevehicle periphery image display device according to the secondembodiment, Table 2 below shows displaying modes that are changedaccording to the distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle. InTable 2, each of the right front corner obstacle indicating line 45 a′,the left front corner obstacle indicating line 45 b′, the right rearcorner obstacle indicating line 45 c′, and the left rear corner obstacleindicating line 45 d′ is expressed as a corner.

TABLE 2 Ranges in which Displaying color, Lighting or obstacle isdetected Corner line type blinking Short range About 30 cm Red solidline Lighting Middle range 30 to 45 cm Red broken line Lighting Longrange 45 to 55 cm Green solid line Lighting

As shown in Table 2, in the present embodiment, the obstacle indicatingline 45′ indicates the distance from the obstacle by ranges in which theobstacle is detected, which are a short range, a middle range, and along range. The obstacle indicating line 45′ is displayed as a red solidline blinking when the obstacle is detected in the short range, a redbroken line blinking when the obstacle is detected in the middle range,and a green solid line blinking when the obstacle is detected in thelong range.

As for the corner obstacle indicating lines 45 a′, 45 b′, 45 c′, and 45d′, the short range is set to a distance shorter than 30 cm, the middlerange is set to a distance of 30 cm or longer and shorter than 45 cm,and the long range is set to a distance of 45 cm or longer and shorterthan 55 cm.

As shown in FIG. 6, when vehicles C1 and C2 are respectively present ata distance of 40 cm from the own vehicle in the right rear cornerperiphery and left rear corner periphery of the own vehicle when parkingthe vehicle, the corner obstacle indicating lines 45 c′ and 45 d′ areeach displayed as a blinking red broken line on the left screen 40according to the location and distance of the vehicles C1 and C2 (inFIG. 6, the broken black lines indicate the blinking red broken lines).

As shown in Table 2, the displaying mode of the obstacle indicating line45′ to be displayed corresponding to the location and distance of theobstacle in the own vehicle periphery is preset and stored in thecontroller unit 8.

Also in the vehicle periphery image display device according to thesecond embodiment, when an obstacle is detected in the own vehicleperiphery in a case where the shift lever is in the backward drivingrange or the radar sensor switch 6 is ON with the vehicle speed beinglower than the predetermined vehicle speed, the obstacle indicating line45′ is displayed depending on the detected location of the obstacle, andthe displaying mode of the obstacle indicating line 45′ is changedaccording to the distance of the obstacle, in the same manner as thevehicle periphery image display device according to the firstembodiment.

As described above, in the vehicle periphery image display deviceaccording to the present embodiment, when an obstacle is detected in theown vehicle periphery, the obstacle indicating line 45′ indicating thedetected location of the obstacle around the own vehicle and thedistance between the own vehicle and the obstacle is displayed closer tothe own vehicle overview image 41 than the own vehicle periphery image42. Accordingly, the obstacle indicating section is not superposed onthe own vehicle periphery image, so that the obstacle indicating sectioncan accurately indicate the detected location and distance of theobstacle without deteriorating the visibility of the obstacle in the ownvehicle periphery image.

In the present embodiment, the obstacle indicating section is theobstacle indicating line 45′ provided along around the own vehicleoverview image 41. The displaying mode of the obstacle indicating lineis changed according to the distance between the own vehicle and theobstacle, so that the displaying region of the obstacle indicating linecan be provided smaller than the case of providing a plurality of theobstacle indicating lines outside of the own vehicle overview imageaccording to the distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle.

Furthermore, with the obstacle indicating line 45′ displayed in the ownvehicle overview image 41 along around the own vehicle overview image41, the effect described above can be specifically obtained withoutdeteriorating the visibility of the obstacle in the own vehicleperiphery image 42.

Although the display 7 as a display device is installed in the middlepart of the dash panel in the present embodiment, a portion of a frontshield or a rearview mirror can be used as a display for displaying animage.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.Various modifications and changes in design can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possibleto accurately display the location and distance of an obstacle withoutdeteriorating the visibility of the obstacle, so that the presentinvention may preferably be used in the technical field of manufacturingvehicles such as automobiles.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   -   1 Vehicle periphery image display device    -   2 Range sensor    -   3, 11, 12, 13, 14 Camera    -   4, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Radar    -   5 Vehicle speed sensor    -   6 Radar sensor switch    -   7 Display    -   8 Controller unit    -   10 Vehicle    -   30, 40 Screen    -   41 Own vehicle overview image    -   42 Own vehicle periphery image    -   43 blind area    -   45, 45 a, 45 b, 45 c, 45 d, 45 e, 45 f, 45′, 45 a′, 45 b′, 45        c′, 45 d′ obstacle indicating line

1. A vehicle periphery image display device that displays on a displayscreen a vehicle periphery image, comprising: an image capturing unitthat captures an own vehicle periphery image; a display controller thatcauses the display screen to display an own vehicle overview image, andalso displays around the own vehicle overview image the own vehicleperiphery image that is captured by the image capturing unit; and anobstacle detector that detects an obstacle in the own vehicle peripheryas well as a detected location of the obstacle around the own vehicleand a distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle, wherein thedisplay controller displays around the own vehicle overview image theown vehicle periphery image and displays, when the obstacle detectordetects an obstacle in the own vehicle periphery, an obstacle indicatingsection closer to the own vehicle overview image than the own vehicleperiphery image, the obstacle indicating section indicating the detectedlocation of the obstacle around the own vehicle and the distance betweenthe own vehicle and the obstacle.
 2. The vehicle periphery image displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle indicating section isan obstacle indicating line provided along around the own vehicleoverview image, and the display controller changes a displaying mode ofthe obstacle indicating section according to the distance between theown vehicle and the obstacle.
 3. The vehicle periphery image displaydevice according to claim 2, wherein the display controller displays theown vehicle periphery image around the own vehicle overview image with ablind area which is not included in the own vehicle periphery imagecaptured by the image capturing unit between the own vehicle overviewimage and the own vehicle periphery image, and also displays theobstacle indicating line in the blind area along around the own vehicleoverview image.
 4. The vehicle periphery image display device accordingto claim 2, wherein the display controller displays in the own vehicleoverview image the obstacle indicating line along around the own vehicleoverview image.
 5. The vehicle periphery image display device accordingto claim 2, wherein the display controller changes the displaying modeof the obstacle indicating line according to the distance between thedriving vehicle and the obstacle by changing at least one of a linetype, a displaying color, and a mode of lighting or blinking of theobstacle indicating line.
 6. The vehicle periphery image display deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein when the displaying mode of the obstacleindicating line is changed by changing the mode of lighting or blinkingof the obstacle indicating line according to the distance between theown vehicle and the obstacle, the display controller changes a blinkingfrequency of the obstacle indicating line according to the distancebetween the own vehicle and the obstacle.
 7. The vehicle periphery imagedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein the display controllerdisplays the own vehicle periphery image around the own vehicle overviewimage when parking the vehicle.